Villages & Towns

Voila

Sitia, Lasithi · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A ruined medieval village with an Ottoman tower.

Voila is an abandoned medieval village on the Ziros plateau, south of Sitia. Its standout feature is a tall Ottoman tower, built around 1740 as the home of a local landowner. The village seems to have been abandoned before 1828.

Walking among the ruined houses, the church of Agios Georgios and the tower is atmospheric. The nearby village of Chandras has a small café.

Sitia is the far east of Crete, a quieter, less touristy area of dry hills, olive groves and vineyards. The town of Sitia has a pretty harbour, a Venetian fortress and museums, and the area includes the palm beach of Vai, the Toplou monastery, the Minoan palace of Zakros and the Gorge of the Dead. Much of the area is part of the Sitia UNESCO Geopark. The local olive oil is among the best in Greece.

Around Sitia

Nearest town: Makrigialos, about 17 km by road
Nearest airport: Sitia airport (JSH), about 19 km by road

Lasithi, the eastern end of Crete, is quieter and greener than you might expect. Agios Nikolaos wraps around a small lake and a lively harbour, with cafés on the water and beaches within walking distance. Just north, Elounda and Plaka look across to the fortress island of Spinalonga, one of the most moving places on the island. More about Lasithi